Agarwood, aloeswood, eaglewood, jinkoh,
gaharu are names for the world’s most valuable incense. This
resinous material is produced by tropical rainforest trees and has
been used for centuries as incense and in traditional medicine.
In the past, old growth Aquilaria and Gyrinops
trees were indiscriminately cut to find the resin (usually hidden
within the center of only a few old trees). Today in many countries
of Southeast Asia where the tree was once native, it has become
very rare due to increased harvesting. The resinous wood or oil
extracted from the inside of some trees is extremely valuable since
it is highly regarded for use during Buddhist and Islamic cultural
activities as well as an important ingredient in many traditional
medicines. It is also an extremely important component in traditional
Japanese incense ceremonies. Although most people in the United
States and Europe are not familiar with this aromatic resinous wood,
its use as incense (called aloeswood) is mentioned several times
in the bible. People in the United States, Europe and other countries
that have had the opportunity to smell the fragrance of this extraordinary
incense find it very appealing and pleasant.

Aquilaria trees are now protected in most countries and the collection of agarwood is illegal from natural forests. International agreements, such as CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), accepted by 169 countries, is designed to ensure trade in agarwood products from wild trees does not threaten the survival of Aquilaria. Despite these efforts agarwood products from illegally cut trees continues to be sold and unknowing consumers create a demand that helps to destroy the last old growth Aquilaria trees in existence.

What triggers agarwood to form in some
old growth trees has been an unsolved mystery. Our research investigation
over the last 12 years in cooperation with The Rainforest Project
Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation
of the worlds forests http://www.agarwood.org.vn,
has studied the formation of resin in Aquilaria and Gyrinops
trees and found a method to produce the resin in plantation grown
young trees. This technique consists of wounding trees in a specific
manner and applying treatments to accelerate the natural defense
responses of the tree. The technique allows a sustainable yield
of resin to be produced in relatively young trees. Agarwood is a
high value forest product that is easy to store and ship. Our newly
developed methods to cultivate agarwood is providing a new economic,
non-timber forest product for Southeast Asia and other tropical
regions of the world. This new economy in rural areas will help
many of the world’s poorest people. The sustainable production
of agarwood in plantation grown trees eliminates the need
to cut old growth forest trees for the resin and will help save
this endangered tree from possible extinction. This work also provides
a source of cultivated agarwood so this magnificent aromatic resin
can be enjoyed by people throughout the world. The world's first cultivated agarwood produced using our technology by farmers in Vietnam is now available and can be purchased from distributers and from the internet.